Hi John,
This morning, Wired Magazine published a deep dive into Big Ag's growing effort to label animal rights activists as "bioterrorists" and their collaboration with federal agencies to spin this absurd narrative.
The exposé—
currently featured on Wired's homepage—
is based on hundreds of documents recently obtained by the government transparency nonprofit Property of the People, which reveal that the FBI and animal industry lobbying groups are stoking baseless fears of bioterrorism within the animal rights movement and specifically in DxE.
Wired senior reporter Dell Cameron, a national security expert, explains how powerful ag lobbyist groups have pressured the FBI to pursue the animal rights movement as a preeminent bioterrorism threat. They have surveilled us, sent spies to attend our events, and developed close ties to the FBI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate -- all to fuel a narrative that shifts blame from the industry onto activists.
The Intercept also reported on these just-released documents and the government's backwards response of blaming activists for widespread disease outbreaks in the factory farming industry.
These wild accusations are already having a real-life impact on DxE animal rescuer Zoe Rosenberg. Zoe faces a felony prosecution and harsh pre-trial conditions in Sonoma County, CA because, as the Wired article explains, the authorities are labeling her a "biosecurity risk." The article also examines how public health agencies concealed disease outbreak information in Sonoma County from the public to prioritize the industry's secrecy over public safety. They are serving as a shield for the industry and a mouthpiece to amplify the industry's lies.
It is vital that we expose the industry's deception and in doing so, we can make it backfire. The public wants and deserves the truth. We are the ones fighting for transparency, for public safety, and for animal protection. The industry has nothing to stand on but lies.
What these documents reveal is deeply alarming. Clearly, the industry and government will go to great lengths to try to silence us and cover up the truth. Despite the nonviolent nature of the animal rights movement, the FBI has a history of targeting animal rights activists as "terrorists." And this growing focus on "bioterrorism" is their latest strategy to try to quash us.
But false accusations, infiltration, and repression will not stop our movement. Rather, it shows us that our work is having a profound impact. Despite the rising repression, DxE activists have continued to investigate factory farms and slaughterhouses and rescue animals in need. And we will continue until every animal is free.
In solidarity,
Cassie
